On the House is informative and enduring

By Alex MarlandFeb. 11, 2019

Former House law clerk Rob Walsh has penned a resource for MPs, regardless of where they sit in the legislative Chamber. On the House: An Inside Look at the House of Commons is a useful compendium for anyone interested in understanding how the House of Commons works.

MPs pictured in the House on Dec. 12, 2018. Rob Walsh's book, On the House, is informative and enduring. It will be most appreciated by MPs and political staff who are interested in the nooks and crannies of how the House of Commons operates. Professors of Canadian politics might want to consider including it on their reading lists for graduate-level courses and recommending the book to their institution’s library, writes Alex Marland. Photograph courtesy of House of Commons

ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—It has become a truism of Canadian politics that too much power is concentrated in a prime minister. There are many reasons for friendly dictatorships and many counterarguments that the whole thing is just a myth. The corollary is that private members who round out the backbenches are powerless.

Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines.

SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts say

The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.